Long ago, when the Vikings crossed the seas to raid Ireland, a boy called Brendan lived in a village not far from

the great monastery of Kells.

One terrible day, the Vikings attacked Brendan’s village

and left no one  alive- except little Brendan!

click http://LearningApps.org/view3131279  and watch!

http://LearningApps.org/view1361649 about King Arthur, a  very famous Celtic King 

 

scriptorium

Aidan of Iona

Pangur Bán

a forest spirit named Aisling.

the Eye of Collum-Cille

Crom Cruach, a Celtic pagan deity

Opening scene:

-“Catch him, Brendan! Don’t let him go!”   The goose is running very fast.

-“We’ve got him!”

The walls of the Abbot’s room  are full of drawings!

-“We are artists, not builders!” said Brother leonardo crossly.

A stranger arrives with a white cat!

From Brother Aidan’ s study room to the forest:

Brendan took down the stachel (bag) and opened it!

-“Oh! Brother Aidan! I… mean no harm. I just wanted to look at the Book.”

The “Chi Ro” page is the most glorious page in the entire book.

The monks use ink, the deepest emerald green ink! They grow an old oak trees in the forest.”

Brendan’s face: ‘I am not allowed in the forest. It is too dangerous.’

-“Oh, Pangur, I really want to help Brother Aidan. Maybe I could go into the forest.

The two friends crept through the passage between the stones.  They hurried into the dark forest.

Finally, they reached a clearing (woods with trees) and stopped to catch their breath.

Wolves! Brendan picked up a stick and swung it around like a sword. The wolves started making noises.

Brendan closed his eyes and begun to pray.

http://LearningApps.org/view3188048

-“Is this your cat?”

A small white-haired girl, about eight years old, stood in front of the stone, holding Pangu Ban.

-“You’re a… a fairy! What are you doing here?”

-“What are you doing here- in my forest? You’ve come to spoil it, haven’t you? Where are the rest of your family?

Cutting down trees or hunting the animals, I suppose?”

-‘I haven’t come to spoil anything! And I don’t have a family.’

-‘No mother?’

-“No?” Brendan said, “no mother, and no father either.”

-‘I’m alone too. My name is Aisling, what’s yours?”

-‘Brendan. And I’m jsut here to find berries to make ink. Do you know where these grow?”

-‘I could help you find them’ Aisling said, ‘but only if you and your cat promise never to come into my forest again!’

-‘We promise.’

-‘Come on, then.’

Aisling led Brendan and Pangur throught the forest, stopping to ask birds and animals for directions to the oak tree.

Finally she stopped under a huge tree and pointed straight up. It was a very long way to the top.

Aisling looked very strong. She managed to climb trees, all of them! Tall trees, thick trees, large trees, all of them!

But Brendan had difficulties climbing, he was trying to breathe.

Aisling was already at the bottom.

-‘Are you alright?’ Aisling asked anxiously.

-‘I’m fine. I just jumped the last bit.’

Pangur looked at him and shook her head.

Brendan left the path and found a cave.

-‘Careful! Be carefu! Evil ahead of you!’

-‘What do you mean?’

‘Crom Cruach? It is not a story … The Dark One is real. Run!’

‘It isn’t your world, Brendan? You must trust me! We need to go home!’

Back at the Abbey:

‘Brendan! Where have you been?’

‘I … I went into the forest. For brother Aidan, to get berries to make ink… for the BooK.’

‘I said it to you. You must not and shouldn’t leave the Abbey.’

‘Yes, Uncle. I’m sorry, I apologize.’

‘Now, come along. I have work for you in the tower.’

Later that night…

-‘Aidan! Wake up!

The next day refugees arrived at the abbey gates. The Vikings were getting closer! The monks worked even harder on the walls.

And Brendan worked on his drawing. Aidan was very pleased with his progress.

-‘Brendan, I have a confession. I cannot do the Chi Ro page. My old hands are too shaky and my eyes too dim. YOU must do it.’

-‘Me? No. I would ruin it. There must be someone else-‘

-‘You just have to trust in yourself and your imagination.’

For once (for the first time in his life), Brendan was glad to hear Abbot Cellach calling him.

Aidan drew a shape on a piece of paper and placed Brendan’s hand on it. The Eye of Crom Cruach was there!

-‘I cannot give up the Book, Uncle!’

Saved by Aisling:

-‘The only key to the Tower is in the Abbot’s room. ‘

-‘Now, Little Cat.’ said Aisling softly ‘You must go where I cannot.’

Aisling begun to croon softly into Pangur’s ear. Pangur’s shape  slowly dissolved into thin white cloud.

The mist-cat turned and twisted inside the room, then reached out and lifted the key from the hook by the door.

-Where are you going?’

-‘The Eye of Crom!’

-‘No, Aisling. It’s a crystal and I think there’s one in the Dark One’s cave.’

Aisling is very sad and also frightened. She doesn’t want her friend to go to Crom Cruach’s place.

-‘Crom Cruach took my people. It took my mother. You will die!’

-‘The Book is Knowledge and Hope and Inspiration. it will be a treasure far beyond our time, a treasure forever.’

-‘This place is hurting you, Aisling. You must go back.’

The fight with the monster:

Again and again, the monster tried to consume Brendan; each time Brendan ducked out of its way( trying to escape).

The serpent raced towards Brendan. Brendan drew a big circle. The monster screamed in frustration.

Brendan reached for the monster’s eye. The eye came free. Pangur Ban was happy to see her her friend alive and well.

In the scriptorium and the arrival of the Vikings:

Brendan lay asleep on his desk, his hand covering a small piece of vellum. Aidan gently moved his hand and looked at Brendan’ s

creation throught the crystal. Very small creatures seemed alive under the glass, perfect in every detail. He called the other Brothers and they looked

at Brendan’s  creation through the crystal. They were amazed at Brendan’s work.

They told Brendan to go in the tower because it was too dangerous to stay  with the Northmen. They slammed the door and locked it behind

him.

The monks said to Brendan :

-‘ The Northmen killed everyone on Iona; they will leave no one in Kells. Your uncle lived to protect you. Now I must protect you, for Cellach and for the Book.’

The Northmen had destroyed part of the book, the vellum pages started floating gently to the ground.

Brendan started collecting them.  The wolf had big blue eyes and was watching them. He suddenly disappeared.

Time passes by. Brendan is now a young adult and he is paying a visit to his Uncle who is old.

from wikipedia:

Brendan Gleeson as Abbot Cellach: A former illuminator himself, Abbot Cellach now uses his talents for the purposes of designing a wall to protect the Abbey of Kells from invasion. He is very concerned for everyone’s safety, especially that of his nephew Brendan, to the point where he thinks of little else but the completion of his wall. Eventually, this leads to his downfall.

Liam Hourican as Brother Tang and Brother Leonardo: Two illuminators, the former from Asia and the latter from Italy.

Mick Lally as Brother Aidan: As the Vikings attacked the Scottish island of Iona, master illuminator Brother Aidan fled with his cat, Pangur Bán. In Kells, he acquires Brendan as an assistant.

Evan McGuire as Brendan: The main character of the film, twelve-year-old Brendan is bright, imaginative and curious, but leads a sheltered life due to his uncle forbidding him from venturing outside the walls of Kells. Brendan is very interested in the art of illumination, and spends much of his time in the scriptorium with some of the Brothers in the abbey. He is recruited as Aidan’s assistant to help finish his great book. His uncle Abbot Cellach, an approaching Viking horde, a snake god and his own fears stand in the way of bringing the finished book to the people.

Michael McGrath as Adult Brendan

Christen Mooney as Aisling: Aisling is a fairy, related to the Tuatha De Danann, living in the woods outside of Kells. She is a protector of the forest, and doesn’t like unwelcomed guests. At this point her age is uncertain, but she is likely to be hundreds of years old. Despite being terrified of Crom Cruach, the evil god that dwells in a cave deep within her forest, she becomes loyal to Brendan and does whatever she can to help him. She has many magical abilities, and often takes the form of a white wolf.

Paul Tylack as Brother Assoua: An illuminator from Africa.

Paul Young as Brother Square: An illuminator from England.

The name Book of Kells is derived from the Abbey of Kells in Kells, County Meath, which was its home for much of the medieval period. The date and place of production of the manuscript have been the subject of considerable debate. Traditionally, the book was thought to have been created in the time of Columba,[4]paleographic and stylistic grounds: most evidence points to a composition date ca. 800,[5] long after St. Columba’s death in 597. The proposed dating in the 9th century coincides with Viking raids on Iona, which began in 794 and eventually dispersed the monks and their holy relics into Ireland and Scotland.[6] There is another tradition, with some traction among Irish scholars, that suggests the manuscript was created for the 200th anniversary of the saint’s death.[7] possibly even as the work of his own hands.

 

Rescued by his uncle, Cellach,

Brendan has lived ever since among the monks in the monsatery,

under strict instructions not to go beyond the walls!

Have a look at the maps!

http://www.undiscoveredscotland.co.uk/usaccomm/index.html

photos of Iona, July 2007  by Marie André-milesi

 

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?

 

Key words:

click on the word :  Iona

 

A stranger arrives with a white cat!

 

 

	1. Opening Brendan
Lecture	2. Brendan and the secret of Kells
Lecture	3. The Goose and the Abbot
Lecture	4. Aisling Song
Lecture	5. The mist doors
Lecture	6. Vikings
Lecture	7. The Chi’Rho Page
Lecture	8. In the Forest
Lecture	9. Brother Aidan
Lecture	10. Brendan and Abbot
Lecture	11. What are you doing in my forest
Lecture	12. The Eye
Lecture	13. The Monks
Lecture	14. Build up to the attack
Lecture	15. The story of Colmicille
Lecture	16. During the attack
Lecture	17. Kells Destroyed
Lecture	18. The Book of Iona
Lecture	19. The Book of Kells
Lecture	20. Epicy
Lecture	21. Cardinal Knowledge